by Kristen Henley-Hills, Movement Teacher
Good morning parents, and welcome to the new school reality, as we now know it. The world is using the term homeschooling right and left to describe parents’ new role in their children’s education. But, while that might sound kind of fun, like playing school when you were a kid, the immensity of the task on top of everything else might also seem a bit much. So, I’m here to reassure you that you are NOT homeschooling. Phew.
Fortunately, you are not responsible for finding, vetting, and organizing the materials and content your children need in their respective grades. You are not responsible for putting together the myriad educational experiences that will usher them successfully into college and beyond! That’s what WSCC is doing for you. This week will be a big one of transition for the students and teachers as we refine this dance of delivering and receiving the Waldorf curriculum.
But, of course, you do have an important role -- cruise director, site manager, and all around keeper of morale.
I homeschooled my own 3 children through the grades for 16 years total and offer these practical, simple tips for making learning at home work for everyone.
Create a schedule! This may sound so obvious, but, as you know, it takes thought and discipline to consider all the factors going on in your families right now and come up with a schedule you can actually strive to keep. This will be the backbone of harmonious times ahead. With regard to children, this means waking in enough time to eat breakfast at a regular time and do some basic chores (bed making, walking the dog, whatever your family already does or needs.) The school has already provided a schedule for Zoom classes, but we are keeping this computer time to a minimum, so time should also be built in for the work itself. Stick to it!
Create a space! Students don’t need a large space to work -- remember their desks at school? But, they should have a designated space where their supplies are handy and tidy.
Set up the space for work each day in advance of scheduled classes. Older students can absolutely lay out their things ahead of time, and the younger ones will enjoy taking this duty on. But, at first, you parents must set the stage and be sure it’s done while the habit is being set.
Consider creating meal and snack schedules. We know at school how hungry your children get. Don’t wait until moods and behavior slide -- or your child says they are hungry -- to eat. If you post a weekly snack schedule, including who is responsible for getting snacks for the whole family, it may prevent flare ups and meltdowns. Plus, it helps everyone to regulate their time and know what’s coming. I’m also a big fan of having multiple breakfasts in the rotation and posting them on a schedule.
As a corollary to the above, the same sort of thing can be done for lunch and dinner. Take advantage of this newfound time to let older children research and plan recipes they can make. One of the loveliest things about homeschooling is that it’s about your family! And everyone is a contributor to the family’s wellbeing.
As you put these plans into place, be sure you are mentally ready to execute. Parental preparation is key. Internalize your plan ahead of time and be honest with yourself about what you can follow through with. You will thank yourself for it!
